Crime in alabama is increasing, is becoming more violent, and IT frequently involves the presence of a firearm

Since 2010, there has been an 87% increase in homicides, a 56% increase in assaults, a 98% increase in aggravated domestic assaults, and a 60% increase in rape. Drug overdose deaths in alabama increased by more than 71% from 2020 - 2022. Based upon 2020 ATF tracing data, alabama is a top 15 source state of firearms for arkansas, connecticut, delaware, district of columbia, florida, georgia, hawaii, illinois, kansas, kentucky, louisiana, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, mississippi, new jersey, new mexico, new york, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, puerto rico, south carolina, tennessee, texas, vermont, virginia, and west virginia. The five cities of anniston, bessemer, birmingham, huntsville, and tuscaloosa are violent crime hotspot outliers, leading most areas of alabama in firearm related violent crime. The violent crime rate in 2019 for all of alabama was 467.6 per 100,000 inhabitants. Respectively, the 2019 violent crime rate per 100,000 people for anniston, bessemer, birmingham, huntsville, and tuscaloosa was: 1,443.2; 2,923.5; 1,638.7; 861.8, and 635.9. These five hot spots are centers of violent, drug, and property crimes within the northern district of alabama (ndal). The primary drivers of crime in these hotspots include domestic violence, violent gangs, drug trafficking, and straw purchases.